Riverview Overhaul Update

I have done a good bit of work. However, I did make a thread on MTS so if you want to follow more closely (and I am hoping you will) check it out here. There is a city and the suburban downtown area is coming along nicely. No homes yet though I have a few spots laid out for them. Anyway, hoping to see some feedback from all of y'all!!!

Riverview Overhaul

Riverview has long since been my favorite town, however none of the new EP shops and rabbit holes are introduced. So I have decided to do a Riverview overhaul. Riverview; not so sleepy and rural anymore? Let's pretend this is sometime in the future and the city has expanded! This involves basically the same set-up as before: any terrain changes have been extremely subtle (changes in bridges, extending the island just a tad, etc). There are 4 different subzones: 

• 1) City: Comprised of middle island
• Has highrises
• Mix of residential (5) and community lots, including some rabbit holes and bars
  
• Subway system
•  2) "Hollywood": Made up of larger mainland (with large hill)
• Will include film studio
• Homes for celebrities
• School system? 
• Subway into city (probably from studio)
• 3) Suburbia: Half of smaller mainland
•  Majority of homes, businesses, etc
• Will include a subway station into the city
• 4) Farmland: Other half of Suburbia mainland (side with fields)
• Few homes, mostly farms
• Military installation by mouth of river

I have not decided on names for streets or subdivisions yet. I have just finished placing the buildings in the city. I have to go back in and do some decorations and edit the actual interiors to fit with my ideas. Nothing has been done to any of the other subzones. I know that I would like a small "slum" area but I am not quite sure where yet. I would love some input, maybe some creative ideas! At some point, when I get a little farther in the project I will probably post on MTS CFF as well. 

As you can see in the picture below: I haven't done much with anything outside the city. I am trying to start inward and work my way out. Once I get the city pretty much complete, I will work on another zone (probably Suburbia) next. It's safe to say that the road layouts will change along with trees and decor being added. Please feel free to offer any advice!

Word of Warning: this project is going to probably be a long time coming. I am working full time (and the commute alone takes 2 hours a day) and I've got other obligations besides the sims. If this looks like a project you might be interested in having, please be patient. If not, you're still welcome to offer input! :)

Trying to Stay Positive

I know that it has been a long time since I updated but I lost everything so I am starting all over! I am definitely considering restarting my world in CAW. Maybe the third time will be a charm! I also lost the story I was working on, but perhaps I can start that again, maybe after I finish my world. (So it a year or so, lol!) I might be getting a job soon (waiting for a call back with an offer :) ) so I won't have a ton of time. I think that is going to be the next thing that I will be working on!

Build to Plan: Classy Contemporary

As a judge for Lifeslover's Build to Plan Contest, I decided that it would probably be wise to follow a plan myself. I figured it would allow me to be a more fair judge (how can you judge a building contest if you have never built?) especially when it comes to the CC limit and using what you have and the building constraints. So, here are the fruits of my labor:

The house is Plan SHD-SEA259. The plan states there is a crawl space or a basement available for the plans. As a crawl space is useless to sims, I went with a small basement. There were also two options for the back of the first floor (I used the second option and then melded them together in Gimp to get the correct floorplan). The optional loft has also been utilized.

Foundation E = Halliwell Manor

For the foundational building, foundation E, I chose to recreate the Halliwell Manor from the TV drama Charmed. I am pretty happy with the way that it turned out, even if it took me close to 72 hours to finish (lots of time for me). It was all that clutter. Of course, some liberties had to be made as no basement could be added and there wasn't a small spot on the back for the mud room. Maybe, if I decide to upload it (once I take out all of the CC) I will add those things and rework it a little.

For other entries on the same foundation (or to see other foundational building ideas) go to: MTS Foundational Building

A more recent, more correct version has been uploaded to this blog and to MTS. Both versions are the same. You can find it here.

The Saga Begins...

Oh yes, this will really be a saga. I have started my first custom hood in CAW and I don't know how well it will go. I am a complete newbie at this tool. So far, my experience with TS3 has been building and...wait for it...more building. The map below is what I am hoping to accomplish. Expect many rants and raves as my progress crawls along at a sloth's pace.